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Southern Illinois Edges Out Indiana, 35-28
Sept. 16, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -Nick Hill threw four touchdown passes and Arkee Whitlock scored on a 9-yard TD run with 5:50 left to lift Southern Illinois to a 35-28 over Indiana on Saturday. The Salukis (2-0), a Division I-AA playoff team the last three seasons, ended a 20-game losing streak against I-A foes. Their last win came Oct. 29, 1983 against New Mexico State. It also marked the first time a team from the Gateway Conference defeated a Big Ten opponent. Indiana (2-1) gave up 254 yards rushing and blew a 14-0 first-half lead. The Hoosiers played without coach Terry Hoeppner, who had brain surgery Wednesday, and also were missing top receiver James Hardy. Hoeppner announced Hardy's two-game suspension Tuesday. Interim coach Bill Lynch started Kellen Lewis at quarterback. He finished 20-of-40 for 238 yards with one touchdown, one interception and was sacked twice on the Hoosiers' final scoring chance. The Salukis allowed only 76 yards on the ground. But after a slow start, Southern Illinois' strong running game and Hill's heroics rallied Southern Illinois. Indiana scored on its first two possessions, and Hill's 5-yard TD pass to Braden Jones just before halftime made it 14-7. The Hoosiers took a 21-7 lead in the third quarter, and then Hill took over. He hooked up with Ryan Kernes for a 7-yard TD pass on third-and-goal to make it 21-14 and tied the score with an 8-yard TD pass to Alan Turner late in the third quarter. After the teams traded touchdowns early in the fourth, Justin Allen made an over-the-shoulder catch for 33 yards on third-and-11. Three plays later, Whitlock was untouched on his touchdown run to give the Salukis a 35-28 lead. The Hoosiers got to the Salukis' 32 with 3:08 left, but Lorenzo Wims sacked Lewis twice to end the threat. Hill finished 10-of-18 for 142 yards, while Whitlock carried 23 times for 103 yards.
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